Has the sun set on the Toyota Prius?
In many ways, yes. It is no longer the alternative energy vehicle of choice for certain demographics. Heck, it isn’t even the best selling hybrid in Toyota’s lineup anymore.
But is it still worth buying in 2020? That depends on you.
Introduction
Toyota introduced the Prius 20 years ago. The pioneering hybrid experienced increasing popularity and cultural relevance once it morphed into a hatchback for its second generation. Toyota transitioned the Prius to the TNGA platform back in 2015 for the 2016 model year. Since then, it’s received minor updates, most notably all-wheel drive, which arrived for the 2019 model year. Sales last year totaled just under 70k, a decrease of more than 50 percent from 2015.
It isn’t too hard to fathom why many former Toyota Prius owners pivoted away from hybrid vehicles. Electric vehicles are the next step in lower or zero CO2 footprint (depending on the source). And as a consequence, the Tesla Model 3 usurped the Prius as the trendy vehicle of choice for environmentally conscious car buyers of a certain stature several years ago.
There’s other competent EVs on the market now too, like the Hyundai Kona and the Nissan Leaf. But ultimately it’s the Tesla brand that captivated the demographics that would have flocked to Toyota ten years ago. It’s trendy. And from an owner’s standpoint, it allows them to reduce their impact on the environment to a degree that the Prius cannot match.
Styling
Without any consideration for how the styling impacts visibility, the Prius looks quite sharp. Literally. There’s a lot of hard edges and creases out back. But from the front all the way back to the rear doors, the Toyota looks like a fairly straightforward hatchback. Overall, it tends to stand out in a parking lot. I mean that as a compliment.
Interior
As a consequence of its steeply raked rear hindquarters, visibility from the driver’s seat is…quite limited. The dual glass setup – which isn’t as expansive as it looks from the outside – and the non-glass portions of the hatch combine to form major blind spots. A rear view camera and blind spot monitoring help negate the compromised visibility. But backing out of a parking spot can still be a little nerve wracking.
Additionally, the rear wiper’s area of operation clears away far too little of the glass to be considered useful. I first drove the Prius at night in the pouring rain, and found myself surprised at how little I was able to see out back. It was not a good first impression.
While grappling with the visibility of the rear hatch, my body struggled to find a comfortable seating position. These are the first automotive seats that haven’t agreed with me. Which is really something, considering I’m 5′ 6″ and about 145 pounds. I blame the bolstering, which felt inadequate, and the seat bottom, which seemed too short. I also felt the seats sat too low in the Prius, even when they were adjusted to the highest possible setting.
Like other Toyota models I tested, the Prius came equipped with SofTex seating. The synthetic leather is perfectly acceptable replacement for the “real” thing and buyers probably won’t notice the difference.
Toyota moved the driver’s cockpit above the center stack for the Prius. Before the advent of modern infotainment, this was a somewhat prudent course of action. Unfortunately, because Toyota wanted the information in that area, it forced them to position the 7 inch touchscreen so far below the line of sight that drivers are absolutely taking their eyes off the road to look at the screen. I’m really not sure why Toyota opted to place the HVAC vents above the screen, but that doesn’t help the situation either.
As for the infotainment itself, it’s pretty much the same setup as the Rav4 and other modern Toyotas that have been reviewed here recently. Responsiveness is a little slow and the graphics look a bit outdated. That would be forgivable if the system interfaced decently with my 4th generation iPod Touch, but the system periodically failed to quickly switch to the next track when it was in shuffle mode.
Basically, the Prius told me it was acquiring data from the iPod in order to comply with my request. What gives? None of the other Toyotas I’ve tested did anything of the sort. Fortunately, the non-premium audio system sounded good. Coming from the JBL sound system in the 2020 Rav4 hybrid, I thought it would come up short. But it delivered solid bass and decent clarity.
Aside from the lack of Android Auto compatibility (fixed for the 2021 model) and satellite radio or navigation, another frustrating issue was the lack of decent storage options for phones or media devices. If Apple users want to use CarPlay on the infotainment screen or plug in their iPod or media player in other circumstances, their only option is to put their device in the rear cup holder. There’s no pass through to the center console either. And if you have a dedicated audio device, you basically have to unplug and relocate it somewhere away from prying eyes every time the car is outside.
The Prius has one USB-A data port, as seen in the above picture, and two USB-A charging ports, in the back of the center console, for rear passengers.
Hybrid Information System
Two 4.2 inch LCD screens serve as the primary information conduits for the driver. The left screen is not configurable except for some minor trip computer settings where the odometer and gas mileage numbers are displayed.
As for the right screen, it can be configured to display a bunch of things. Audio information is apparently able to be displayed on certain models, but my XLE trimmed Prius did not have that capability.
Unlike the Rav4 hybrid, the Prius is better at informing drivers about the conditions that will prompt the gasoline engine to activate. That all-important bracket is what I’m referring to. It should be a standard feature in every Toyota hybrid.
Driving Experience
Like the Rav4 hybrid, the Prius pretty much transitions between hybrid power and EV operation in seamless fashion. But it’s not as refined as its compact crossover stablemate. There are some very brief shudders when the gasoline engine powers on while accelerating after a period of coasting. For example, if you’re coasting to a red light that turns green and step on the pedal, you’ll definitely feel the engine power up. In other situations you’ll simply hear it.
Presumably, in order to maximize weight savings, Toyota opted to strategically apply sound deadening to the areas where they felt the Prius needed it most. While wind noise is well controlled, tire and road noise is transmitted into the cabin. It’s not a deal breaker, but when driving on wet roads you’ll definitely hear the water impacting the car more than you would in the Rav4. Engine noise is also easily heard when the Prius is accelerating to highway speeds and up hills.
The AWD-e version adds an electric motor to the rear axle that’s capable of 7 hp and 40 lb.ft of torque. It does kick in on every take-off, but only up to 6 mph. And it provides additional rear wheel thrust up to 43 mph as needed in low traction situations. Obviously no one is going to use it for serious off-roading.
Ride and Handling
The Prius feels adequately powered in Normal mode and surprisingly quick in Power mode. As for the ride, it’s pretty soft and designed to isolate the driver from road imperfections. Bumps and potholes will stymie the Prius if they are consistent but the Toyota will absorb that type of stuff adequately if it only affects one tire or one side. In terms of handling, the Prius feels light on its feet.
It does not protest sharp turns and you can power through them at slightly faster than advised speeds. But it reaches its limits quickly. Wider or stickier tires would help here. But the Prius is designed to deliver maximum fuel efficiency, and that comes at the cost of engaging driving dynamics.
And that’s the rub, because the steering is numb and uncommunicative. The Rav4’s steering at least adequately responded to inputs, but in the Prius things are quite vague. Braking is one area where the Prius feels superior to its sibling. Pedal feel is far more predictable and confidence inspiring and drivers will definitely be able more reliably deliver smooth stops in the Prius.
Value
The two biggest arguments against the Prius can be found right alongside it at your local Toyota dealer. The Corolla LE Hybrid paired with blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert carries a retail price of $24,895. That model lacks the leather, heated seats, head up display, or all-wheel drive of a $31,000 Prius XLE like my loaner.
But those aren’t essential features and the cost savings can easily pay for the best winter tires money can buy. Additionally, the Corolla has a bigger touch screen, two USB data ports (with one crucially situated in the center console) and satellite radio. It will almost certainly boast better visibility as well.
A Rav4 XLE Hybrid equipped with the XLE Weather Package retails for $31,895. It will offer drivers sight advantages due to its height and it also has a larger cargo area out back. According to the EPA’s fuel economy calculator, it’s only $200 more expensive to fuel up in a year than the Corolla or Prius. I think that’s a price worth paying.
Conclusion
I averaged an even 60 mpg after driving the Prius for 100 miles (the EPA combined rating for the Prius AWD is 50 mpg). That’s not a lot of distance to draw a conclusion about how well the Prius can achieve its EPA ratings. That being said, it seems like it should be easy to do. After all, that’s really what the Prius was designed to deliver.
Toyota deserves credit for creating a hybrid that can get such good mileage. But ultimately, the Corolla is too appealing to ignore. It gets the same combined fuel economy rating (as a non-AWD Prius) and boasts more compelling accommodations for media devices and those who enjoy satellite radio.
Faced with compelling internal rivals, it’s difficult to make a case for the Prius in 2020, at least in certain respects. But if you don’t need a ride with bleeding edge tech and just want a versatile all-wheel drive hatchback that boasts unique styling, the Prius might be the hybrid to get. With proper incentives, this could still be a solid option for buyers, provided they know what they’re getting into.
(ED: A plug-in Prius Prime, which starts at $28,200, qualifies for a $4,502 federal tax credit and a state tax credit in many states, making it often cheaper to buy than the regular Prius. And cheaper to fuel, with an electric-only range of some 25 miles)
Toyota provided me with the Prius for one week, along with a full tank of gas.
Impressive review. I like that you chose to highlight the nose of the Prius as your lead pic. Toyota styling in general, and some of their overwrought nose designs, being perhaps one of their most controversial features in their current lineup. It tells me, like all the new car reviews at Paul’s site, that your opinions are very genuine. And you are offering objectivity. As some sites/reviewers would shy away from a polarizing pic as the lead here, that may not cast the subject car in the best light.
Motor Trend always spent big bucks on photography, and the most flattering photo shoots. It made the magazine and reviews at times, seem like full colour brochures for the manufacturers. Whereas Car and Driver’s photography (for example) was less artistic. And for me, it gave me the sense CD was more independent, and impartial in their reviews. Whether, there was validity to their neutrality or not. As of course, CD did some bad journalism at times.
A growing problem in journalism in general today, is powerful people and corporations will deny access to (and shut out) writers and media outlets who do not write what they want to be said. Combined with much corporate consolidation in media and journalism, it stymies independence, and objectivity in reporting. The continued open expression of candid and impartial opinions, is one of the great assets of Paul’s site, and his writers.
Quite prescient on how the Tesla Model 3 has become the Prius of today. The Prius has never won any accolades for performance metrics, but made up for it with a sophisticated (yet reliable) drivetrain that yielded stellar fuel mileage. Unfortunately, that was during a time when it was the only game in town. Those days have long since passed and, even with styling that seems like it came from late fifties Detroit, has allowed the Prius to slip into irrelevancy. The only exception might be the PHEV (plug-in) ‘Prime’ version, but even that will only sell when buyers can’t get their hands on the better RAV4 Prime plug-in (which, strangely, Toyota is limiting production).
Indeed, Toyota, in GM-like fashion, seems to be counting on its reputation and past success to, somehow, keep the Prius in contention. Well, with superior competition (both from other manufacturers and Toyota’s own electrified products), it’s just not going to work. Honestly, other than some whacko styling, I’m not seeing a whole lot of difference in the 2020 Prius from the second generation version. The 2004 Prius was a game-changer, but that was sixteen years ago.
And speaking of not working, another odd thing about the company that used to be the market leader in alternate propulsion is how Toyota seems to be almost completely eschewing the whole EV market, relying mostly on old-tech NiMH battery, non-plug-in hybrids, while everyone else is moving onto Li-ion plug-ins, both BEV and PHEV. That kind of reliance on the past is exactly what nearly sank the once proud market leader GM.
The worst thing about the current car is how brutally ugly it is. I do like the interior’s return to the dash mounted shifter and a lower center console. The previous gen’s console was obnoxious IMO. The biggest arguement against the Prius? The current gen Camry Hybrid. 50mpg+ in a larger, more comfortable, better riding, more powerful car, for not a whole lot more money.
I agree with gtemnykh. Ugly as sin. That goes for the Honda Clarity as well. No excuse for poor design.
If I were shopping between the Corolla and Prius (God help us all), I think the Prius would be a better choice if only for the hatchback. The hatchback does allow you to fit larger objects in the car than you can in the Corolla. I think the Prius might be a little bigger inside, plus the Prius does give you the I’M DRIVING SOMETHING FROM THE FUTURE feel that I’m sure is appealing to many people.
I lent some friends the Pacifica for a trip and they lent me their Prius, I think a 2006 model. It was roomy, the hatchback was useful, although I had a little trouble getting a printer in, and very futuristic. The controls are very different and the experience of turning the car on and it not making any noise is very . . . interesting. It did get amazing mileage and was overall practical.
I’m guessing the reason these things aren’t selling is with gas under $2, people aren’t as concerned any more. Plus Teslas are the new hot eco fashion statement. I’m not sure if hybrid technology is being extended to other platforms because people WANT a corolla hybrid, or because it’s good for EPA/government numbers, or simply to reduce the cost of the technology by sharing it across as many vehicles as possible, or some combination of the factors.
Yes, this. When I was used-car shopping 3 years ago, what I really wanted was a Matrix. They were thin on the ground, so I went with the only other Toyota hatchback in my price range, the Prius. I’ve crammed a lot of stuff in that hatch, but I really would have rather had a Matrix.
Good review. Between the refresh a few years ago and familiarity with the design leading to acceptance, I have come to find the latest version of the Prius quite stylish. I actually think Toyota is not resting on their laurels, GM-like. In fact, the they are offering a pretty wide variety of overlapping models that gives customers a real choice. Corolla, Camry, RAV4 and Prius all offer different attributes (sedan of various sizes, CUV, 5 door hatch) plus choices of FWD and AWD, and plug-in, hybrid or straight ICE (except Prius). Seems like good marketing to me.
Footnote: on a recent trip to the summit of Alvord Peak in eastern Oregon, almost 10000’ above sea level on a 30+ mile gravel road, fairly rough and steep in places, one of the few passenger cars I saw was an AWD Prius.
I agree. GM lost their through a ton of hubris, poor quality, and unwillingness to change. Toyota has worked hard to maintain high initial and long term quality, and has several slightly over lapping products to fit most anyone’s needs.
This is, as always, a great review. Excellent point about the RAV4 hybrid – for a little more money and a little less mpgs, you get a considerably more useful vehicle. No wonder half of RAV4 sales are now hybrids. I also find it remarkable that the new Highlander hybrid easily breaks 30 mpgs. Quite astounding.
I had a Fusion hybrid rental a couple of months ago – 3 adults, the rolling hills of PA, 75 mph….and we still got 45 mpgs. I was impressed.
I look forward to my next purchase to be hybridized in the next couple of years.
Sorry, but that is one butt ugly car! I could never own one no matter how efficient and reliable it was. It’s right up there with the 57, 58 Mercury’s!
It’s ugly, yeah, but at least they walked it back from the aesthetic trainwreck of the generation before it. Too little too late, though.
The Prius is looking very much like a transitional product that has reached the end of its effective marketing life. It introduced Toyota’s once-radical hybrid drive to the masses in a very quirky car that nonetheless performed as a non-quirky family vehicle with almost no real sacrifices. Now that the technology is mainstream and fitted into volume nameplates like the Corolla, Camry, RAV4, what purpose is left for this car? It’s done the job it was given. It may be time to retire.
I haven’t driven this generation. I have driven the prior two. The hybrid powertrain was very interesting to experience at the time, but otherwise I didn’t like them. Slow, loud, poor handling, poor driving position. This TNGA one is reportedly improved across the board, but a $32K Camry Hybrid XLE is still far more appealing to me despite the lower mpg and FWD.
Admittedly it is a small sample size but of the people I know who replaced or supplemented their Prius did so with a RAV-4 Hybrid. The 4 people I know who have a Model 3 it is at least their 2nd car with a plug, and none of them had a Prius, at least since I’ve known them.
So I personally think its biggest competition comes from the other Hybrid Toyotas.
This review reminds me of how things change. The Prius has gone from the center of attention a bit over a decade ago to a car on the verge of irrelevance. It is now a conservative choice. Has the Prius become the Rambler of alternative-power cars?
It is now a car that does many things pretty well but no one thing really well. Other choices are faster or handle better or are more luxurious. More importantly, there are EVs that use less fuel (to the point of no liquid fuel at all) and are more technically dazzling. It is competent but not outstanding. Just like Rambler used to be in, say, 1960.
Very nice comparison to Rambler, JP. As mentioned, I can’t see the Prius being around much longer. A hybrid Corolla hatchback would definitely kill it.
Has the Prius become the Rambler of alternative-power cars?
Nah, the Rambler was so much prettier!
Around here in south Texas, the Prius is known as the “penalty box”. Nice review, though.
I got stuck with one as a rental in West Texas (Midland) on an oilfield project I was managing. Freeway driving out there was downright scary in the Prius. I’m not going to elaborate on the looks I got driving this thing.
There is butt ugly, there is fugly, butt, this is at least two steps beyond that. That badge placement has been a bad styling cue since the first time they used it and it still is. I guess as an appliance for the appliance buyer. Hey throw in a couple more folds and creases. Any left over fake vents to tack on?
The saddest thing is, while it wasn’t what I would call good, the 2nd gen Prius was a nice, anonymous-looking pod that did a much better job of conveying its purpose. In fact, I’d go so far as to say if Toyota had followed the VW Beetle template and retained virtually all of the 2004-09 Prius’ looks and just stuck to mechanical upgrades, they stood a much better chance of retaining their dominant hybrid position.
Instead, Toyota’s stylists went on some bizarre Japanese spaceship theme which really went bonkers with the fourth restyle. I doubt there were a lot of US consumers who liked driving around in a car that looked like it came out of a cheap sixties’ sci-fi movie.
It’s because the JDM market. The 2009 redesign with more aggressive traits absolutely exploded in sales in Japan, and obliterated US sales dominance at that point. They bought 315k in Japan the following year. It still nearly doubles year to year compared to US sales, so the core of Prius and it’s appeal is still there, just not to many US consumers.
People forget that “Prius” didn’t start with the egg shape everyone associates with it. A household member drives this 240k 2002 with the original battery pack. It’s so tame to what they give us today, but I also think it shows how Toyota knew to transition the bulk of their hybrid models into mainstream products here, and do quirky at home:
:
The 2nd gen Prius was definitely the high water mark of the series. Very overbuilt cars inside and out, simple but cohesive styling. I hated them when they first came out but got to drive my father in law’s ’09 a bit once most of the “smug” stigma had worn off, and it was interesting to drive in its own right. Very roomy front seating space with that open space going down to the floor in front of the dash and just that little shifter nub in the dash. I agree, if they could simply implement newer more efficient powertrain tech into the recognizable and well liked 2g body, that would be cool.
“The 2nd gen Prius was definitely the high water mark of the series.”
+1 on that.
My ’07 was the most reliable car I ever had, and it looked good in red. I got bored with it, though, sold it, and can’t say that I ever missed it.
The car was a game changer, but like a lot of trendsetters, it eventually fades away, whether it goes gently into the night or not. And cars like that tend to stay past their sell by date, like the Model T or Beetle. Good cars, but they became old tech and lost their relevancy – and sales.
IMHO, Toyota is trying to serve all customers, and they understand that there are loyal Prius buyers, so they continue the model. But, they do hybrid Camry, Corolla, and RAV4s, and those bring more buyers into the hybrid fold. The lessons learned via the Prius have made those other hybrid models cheaper to create, and more robust and reliable for having worked 20 years on the tech.
Now, are the trendy moving along to other cars, especially the Tesla 3? Heck yeah. But Toyota, who seems to be less inclined to go full BEV, knows that if it keeps chugging along, they will do fine. Trends come and go, and first to market is not always the long term winner.
We just purchased a 2021 Toyota Prius LE AWD last month, specifically for the Android Auto capability. Prius was not my first choice however, it was my partner’s. He was looking at RAV 4 Prime but price and limited availability were a deterrent. I would have preferred a midsize SUV for the cargo space and AWD, like a Honda CR-V. Our last car was an 2006 Honda Accord. It had good horse power for a 4 cylinder, better then a Prius but had lame gas mileage for a 15 yr old car.
We drove the Prius past LA a few times already and it is nothing fancy in power/acceleration. It has great safety technology, and Cruise control assist is like the car can drive itself, which is helpful in LA traffic conditions. I feel it is very futuristic inside the cockpit compared to my old car I agree it is a very practical and safe car for a prudent car buyer who wants fuel economy and technology. I compromised a SUV for the AWD Prius because it still has more cargo space than my old Honda and a hatchback is more useful. We do drive out to the mountains where is does snow occasionally. It will be a good car for our needs. The Toyota Prius is still a safe bet but no longer cutting edge. And now there is a a ton more options in the US market of other hybrid vehicles from other car makers taking a piece of the pie. It makes sense that the Prius is no longer as popular as it once was.
Why didn’t you go with a RAV4 Hybrid?
I can’t help but notice that the dashboard on the Prius shown looks like a modern take on a mid 50’s Nash dashboard with its centric theme.
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned the Toyota’s excellent Camry LE Hybrid which doesn’t cost very much more, has better performance than the Corolla Hybird, in a larger more accommodating package and gets similar EPA gas mileage 52 mpg combined, 51 mpg city, 53 mpg highway.
Several of us have in the comments:
” The current gen Camry Hybrid. 50mpg+ in a larger, more comfortable, better riding, more powerful car, for not a whole lot more money.”
I’ll chime in here also. I have Camry and Prius hybrids from the prior generation; both are top-of-the-line models that I was able to purchase lightly used from my former employer (I’m now retired). I’ve also driven the TNGA Prius (a 2016 model) but only sat in the current Camry.
My Camry XLE Hybrid is superior to the Prius Five in room, quiet, seating comfort, ride, and acceleration. Braking and handling are about the same. The Prius excels in gas mileage and hatchback convenience/cargo space. Both cars have about 60,000 miles. Calculating gas mileage the old-fashioned way (miles driven divided by gallons consumed), the lifetime average of the Prius is 46 mpg, the Camry 41 — surprisingly little difference.
The Softex leather (imitation) is identical in texture and feeling to the real leather in the Camry in my opinion, except it doesn’t have the delightful aroma. But Softex is easier to clean than the real thing.
I can say from having driven the TNGA Prius that it’s definitely quieter than the prior generation and indicated gas mileage was superior under similar driving conditions. BTW, I actually like the styling on the latest Prius — it looks like nothing else on the road and lacks the gaping maw grille of most Toyota models. I’d characterize the styling as Japan’s take on the 59 Chevy; it even has vestigial fins!
Still if I were buying today, I’d prefer the Camry over the Prius (assuming I liked the way the Camry drives).
I think the former Prius was a study in refined style. It looked, if you didn’t know, as if it could be from the house of Citroen. The new one is a painful pastiche of bad styling. The wierdest thing is that Toyota was SUCH a leader with the Prius but aside from the Prime (and the inventory restricted Rav4 plug in, how odd is it that there are so few plug-in Toyotas. As so many have added plug ins, from Volvo to Kia/Hyundai, to Ford, why is Toyota so frozen in time?